Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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After getting inspired by Instagram and Tiktok, I decided to try my hand at bookbinding and create a special edition version of my book!
Unfortunately, turning Powerless into a cloth-covered classic ended up being more difficult than I expected.

Bleeding spray paint, peeling foil, annoying software, vinyl that wouldn’t adhere to the cover and poorly cut end pages were too small. It didn’t take me long to realise that bookbinding is not something one can pick up in an afternoon.

In this episode, I cover two versions of page edges – custom sprayed edges and gilded edges. It took WAY longer than I’d hoped.

Some helpful videos on gilded edges and book binding (they’re all much more proficient than me!):

@ingeniusdesign
- youtube.com/watch?v=Er3hIEUuCms
- youtube.com/watch?v=bhaZ4znFvww

@ThatsMyBookshelf
- youtube.com/watch?v=fS-9MsCIFB0
- youtube.com/watch?v=pYl0FvUV0bE
- youtube.com/watch?v=NwqhMbblpYQ
- youtube.com/watch?v=yjxSaVlcBxM

@AnnaMarieReads
- youtube.com/watch?v=oOhSF7_Dq4c

QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS: -
Have you tried custom sprayed edges, book binding, or recovering books before?

TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - IngramSpark Digital Cloth
2:30 - Bookbinding Instagram!
2:58 - Gilding my book edges (attempt 1)
8:20 - HTV vinyl for the cover
9:04 - Peeling the foil (attempt 2)
11:12 - Designing the cover
15:38 - Attempts 3 and 4
16:52 - Page splitting shenanigans
23:46 - Sprayed book edges
28:47 - Foiled again!
31:17 - Solved!

ABOUT POWERLESS:
📚 Get the first three chapters for free at jacquelinepretty.com
🛍️Order here: amazon.com/dp/B0BXFCQ32G
🔖Add to Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/123213427-powerless
⚠️Trigger warnings: Self harm, strong language, violence

#bookbinding #selfpublishing #indiepublishing